Photographers Who Are Saving Lives of Homeless Pets

Teresa Berg, a professional photographer, shoots photos of rescue animals
like this kitten to give them a better chance at adoption.

A good photo of a shelter pet can make a huge 

difference in the animal's adoption.

For my Sunday Cat of the Week post, I go online and look at photos of homeless kitties seeking forever homes. It is a difficult choice--I want them ALL to find homes--but I pick one cat to highlight on both my blog and my book's Facebook page. I am thrilled that a number of the featured cats are now in loving homes.

My eye is drawn to photos of adoptable cats that are up close and personal, where the animal's personality shines through. I notice when I post a good headshot of a rescue cat on my Facebook page, it receives more attention and more shares from followers. Social media exposure can give the cat a better chance of being adopted.

Sadly however, I often see blurry pictures on rescue sites that a well-meaning animal lover snapped. Sometimes a cat stares at me from behind the bars of its cage with glowing eyes and a scowl. The lighting is bad and the cat look ill. Or the photographer has chopped off the cat's ears with an amateurish headshot. Oh dear. How will these cats get adopted if a poor photo is their only chance? And I know rescues work so hard to place animals, doing miraculous things with little money.

Professional photography 

shows off a pet's personality

The good news as reported by msnbc. com in "To Snag Homes, Shelter Pets Get Glam Makeovers,"   is that some professional photographers are using their talents to help rescue organizations place pets. The photographers understand how to showcase a pet's true personality. The two photographers featured here also provide suggestions on how volunteers and rescue organizations can use lighting as well as some tricks-of-the-trade to take better shots of their 4-legged subjects.

Hope was a rescue that Teresa Berg photographed.

Pet Photographer: 

Teresa Berg

Teresa Berg, a Dallas-based photographer, realized she could offer rescues her creative photography skills to help save the lives of homeless animals. She works with local animal shelters including the Dallas - Fort Worth Dachshund Rescue Foundation. Petfinder reported that Berg's photos more than doubled the rescue's adoption rate! You can see more of her photos at "Shelter Animals Get Glam."

She recently wrote a guidebook with Bev Hollis and Barbara Breitsameter for professionals shooting pets entitled Dog Shots. It includes thirty of their favorite shots with setup and exposure information.

Watch the video of Berg featured on CBS Sunday Morning:

Second Chance Photos: 

Seth Casteel

Seth Casteel, believes every pet deserves a loving home. The professional photographer, based in Los Angeles and Chicago, donates his time and his money to help rescue animals across the country. He established Second Chance Photos  with a mission to help shelters and volunteers take the best possible photographs of rescues to give them a better chance of finding a home.

Watch Casteel with Sugar a rescue dog:

TIPS FOR RESCUES AND VOLUNTEERS 

TO TAKE BETTER PHOTOS

• Here are some of Casteel's downloadable tips for shelters to take purrfect pictures of rescue animals.
• Plus Petfinder also has a number of articles on "Photographing Adoptable Pets."

Check out the video and see the "Before" and "After" shots of the many rescues that Casteel has photographed and brought out their best.

You might also be interested in "Creative Photographer Captures Personality of Your Pet."


photo credits: Teresa Berg Facebook page

How You Can Volunteer to Help Homeless Pets in Your Community

One way you can help homeless animals is to play with the cats at your local shelter.

Do you love animals? Would you like to volunteer to help homeless pets but are not sure how to get involved?

PetSmart Charities® is introducing Volunteer Action Day today to bring awareness about the volunteer needs of animal welfare organizations and to encourage you to help homeless pets by volunteering your talents in your community. Click here to see how volunteers help animal rescue organizations.

I volunteer at the Jersey Animal Coalition as a cat socializer. When I walk into the cattery at the shelter, I see so many kitties who deserve forever homes. It is very satisfying to be able to spend time with the cats and most importantly provide them with love and affection and some enjoyable playtime. How rewarding it is to hear the kitties purr.

Easy to Volunteer: Start by Entering Your Zip Code.

People Saving Pets™ empowered by PetSmart Charities has made it easy for you to find numerous volunteer opportunities in your community--whether it's fostering a dog, playing with kittens or working as a website game programmer.

Enter your zip code here at the People Saving Pets site and find out how you can volunteer at your local rescue organization. You'll make a huge difference in an animal's life.